Dice Cricket: the team game where every ball is a decision
Two dice, two teams, one tough question on every ball: push for more runs, or call your player back and keep what you have? It turns a fun cricket match into a live lesson on risk, timing and leadership.
How to play Dice Cricket
- Throw two dice. The higher number is the runs. A 6 is a SIX, a 4 is a FOUR.
- Any 1 is a dot ball. No runs on that ball.
- A double 1, 2, 3 or 4 is out. All his runs become zero. On a free hit he is not out and scores that number.
- Any 5 is a Lucky 5 no ball. 1 extra run to the team, the player scores the number on the other dice (double 5 gives 5), the same team throws again, and that ball is a free hit: the player cannot be out.
- Double 6 is a wide, not out. 1 run to the team and the same team throws again.
- The captain can call a player back before any throw. His runs become safe in the team total.
- The last player wins it automatically: if the chasing team's last player passes the target, his runs are made safe and his team wins.
- A tie goes to a super over: each captain picks 2 players and each team gets 6 balls.
- Wickets go to the bowler. When a player gets out, the wicket is credited to the player from the other team at the crease at that moment.
- Player of the Match comes from the winning team: safe runs plus 4 points for every wicket. The highest points wins.
- The captain picks who goes in next, in any order. Teams throw turn by turn, after a toss.
Why this decision making activity works for employees
Only 4 of 36 throws are out, so the risk feels small. But one out wipes every run at the crease. Teams feel the same pulls that drive real business decisions.
Loss aversion
Prospect theory (Kahneman and Tversky, 1979) shows people feel a loss about twice as strongly as an equal gain. Captains feel it every time they think about calling back.
The hot hand trap
After a SIX, teams believe the streak will continue. Research on the "hot hand" shows people see streaks in pure chance. Momentum is not a strategy.
Decision vs outcome
A smart call can still end in an out. The debrief teaches teams to judge the quality of a decision, not just its result.
Pressure from the crowd
The whole team shouts "one more!" The captain learns to hear the room and still decide with a clear head.
What your team takes back to work
- A simple rule for when to stop and protect a gain: closing a deal, shipping a project, banking a result.
- Better calls on who to put in at the right moment, the same skill managers need when they assign work.
- A shared language for risk: "What is at stake if we take one more throw?"
- A structured debrief with each captain's decision style: Cautious, Balanced or Bold.
Book a live Dice Cricket session with Saurabh Jain
Run Dice Cricket as part of a decision making, leadership or team building workshop, led by Saurabh Jain with a full debrief for your team.
Email: sj.enactrax@gmail.com
Siddhant Complex, Gali No. 6, Adarsh Basti, Adarsh Bazar, Barkat Nagar, Tonk Phatak, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302015
Dice Cricket FAQ
What is Dice Cricket?
Dice Cricket is a decision making game for teams. Two teams throw two dice per ball, score runs, and their captains decide when to call a player back to make the runs safe before an out wipes them to zero.
How many people can play?
Two teams of 2 to 11 players each, plus a captain for each team. It works for a small team of 6 and for a full training room.
Can two teams play from two different laptops?
Yes. Choose Play on two laptops, create a live match on one laptop and type the 5 letter code on the other. Each team throws from its own laptop and both screens show the same dice, sounds and score live.
Can we use real dice?
Yes. Choose real dice in the trainer settings, throw physical dice in the room and type the numbers. The screen plays the same suspense, sounds and effects.
Can players talk while playing from different places?
Yes. In a live match, press Turn on voice on both laptops to talk through the laptop microphone and speakers while you play.
What does a team learn from it?
Risk versus reward, when to stop and protect a gain, how momentum and crowd pressure push people into bad calls, and how to judge a decision by its quality instead of its outcome.